Zoo Lights Returns to Eureka With a Glowing Holiday Experience

A festive holiday tradition is returning to the North Coast as Zoo Lights lights up Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka for its third year.

Zoo Lights transforms the Zoo into a glowing evening experience, guiding visitors along an illuminated pathway filled with seasonal displays, a twinkling Redwood Sky Walk, and one especially unique centerpiece: the tallest living holiday tree in Humboldt County. The towering coast redwood stands more than 175 feet tall and was selected not just for its dramatic location, but for its long-term potential. Zoo staff expect the tree’s growth to accelerate in the coming years as it continues to rise above the surrounding canopy.

Organizers say Zoo Lights is designed to be more than a walk through lights—it’s about building a tradition where families can return year after year and watch the Zoo, and its signature redwood, grow alongside them.

Presented by the City of Eureka, Zoo Lights opens Saturday, December 20, 2025, and runs nightly through Sunday, January 4, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m., excluding Christmas Day. Zoo members will get an exclusive preview night on Friday, December 19.

Admission is $5 per person, with tickets available at the Zoo ticket booth in advance or on the night of the event. Weather conditions may affect operations.

Zoo Lights and Sequoia Park Zoo will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25. More details can be found at redwoodzoo.org.